Footwear-cleaner.



B. E. MINKLBR.

FOOTWEAR CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 1913.

Patnted Nov. 17, 1914.

2/91 bu e 0024 THE NORRIS PETERS C0,, PM u.. WAJHINQYON. D. C.

BERT E. MINKLER, OF CARTHAGE, MISSOURI.

FOOTWEAR-CLEANER.

Application filed March 29, 1913.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BERT E. MINKLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Carthage, in the county of Jasper and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Footwear-Cleaners, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

It is an object of this invention to provide a brush-carrying frame for devices of this character that can be stamped or fabricated from a single piece of sheet metal, thereby materially reducing the cost of manufacturing such devices. Further, the device is soarranged that the brush for cleaning the bottom of an article of footwear, which re quires comparatively frequent cleaning, may easily be removed for that purpose and as readily replaced.

When read in connection with the descrip tion herein, the details of construction and arrangement of parts contemplated by the invention will be apparent from the accompanying driving, forming part I hereof, wherein an embodiment of the invention is disclosed, for purposes of illustration.

While the embodiment disclosed by the drawing, now is considered a preferable one, it is to be understood that it is not the intention to be limited necessarily to the exact form shown, as it is obvious that alterations can be made within the limits prescribed by the claims, without departing from the nature and spirit of the invention.

Like reference-characters refer to corresponding parts in the views of the drawing, of which- Figure 1 is an end view; Fig. 2 is a top view; Fig. 3 is a top view of the frame; Fig. at is a side view and Fig. 5 is a view of the bottom-cleaning brush.

Having more particular reference to the drawing, 6, T, and 8 designate brushes or the like for respectively cleaning the bottom, sides, and top of articles of footwear. The brushes are supported by a frame 9 of sheet metal, which is attached to any suitable base by screws or the like 10. The material of the frame is bent upwardly at oppositelydisposed end portions to form side flanges 11, and to these flanges are riveted or otherwise secured, near the junction of the flanges with the remaining plane portion of the frame, spring-arms 12, the arms on each side extending upwardly and toward the arms Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

Serial No. 757,586.

on the other side. To the ends of the arms on each side is attached a side brush 7. order to afiord auxiliary supports for brushes 7 and to take some of the weight I and strain imposed upon the brushes, the material of the frame is cut beneath the brushes and portions of the material bent upwardly to form uprights 13 on the ends of which the brushes rest.

In order to hold the central bottom-cleaning brush 6 removably in place, the material of the frame between the uprights 13 is cut and portions of the material turned to form flanges L1. The flanges 11 are spaced apart a suflicient distance to permit the base of the brush (5 to be placed therebetween, the flanges clamping the brush and holding it against lateral movement. Each of the flanges has an inturned lug 15 arranged to seat in a slot 18 in the brush-base when the brush is between the flanges, whereby longitudinal movement of the brush is prevented. The material of one of the side flanges 11 is cut and a portion of the material turned outwardly to form a horizontally-disposed bottom-scraper 17 near one end of that flange. The material of one of the flanges 11, preferably that on which the scraper 17 is formed, is out near one end and a portion of the material bent outwardly and up wardly to form a support 18 to which the top or toe cleaning brush 8 is secured.

It will be noted that the various parts for holding the brushes in place, except the spring-arms, are formed integrally on and from a single piece of sheet metal in a simple manner, so that the cost of making the supporting-frame is comparatively small. When the wearer of an article of footwear desires to clean it, he moves the foot carrying the article back and forth between the side brushes and over the lower brush, whereby the sides and bottom of the footwear are cleaned, the spring-arms during this operation pressing the side brushes against the footwear and permitting the brushes to give laterally. Mud and the like may be removed from the bottom of footwear by moving it over the scraper, and at the same time the top of footwear will come into contact with the brush 8 and be cleaned. hen it is desired to remove the bottomcleaning brush, it may be lifted from the frame. Usually, the bristles of the bottom and side brushes will give sufliciently to permit upward movement of the bottom brush 011 removal, or the side brushes may be moved laterally to permit this operation.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a footwear-cleaning device, the combination of a frame, flanges on the frame having inturned lugs, a bottom-cleaning brush between said flanges and having slots 10 in Which said lugs are seated, spring-arms 2. A footwear-cleaning device comprising a frame, upwardly-extending spring arms secured near each end of said frame, oppositely disposed brushes on said arms, and uprights 0n the frame and below each brush and constituting an auxiliary support therefor.

In testimonywliereof I afiix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

C. B. STICKNEY, W. C. THOMAS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

